A River Cruise on the Holy Ganges Between Kolkata and Varanasi

As you continue to sail upstream arrive at the small village of Matiari which is known for its production of brass. Interact with the local community and get a unique opportunity to see how brass is produced including the process of beating out brass water pots and vessels. Continue to the famous battlefield of Plassey where the East India Company, under the command of Robert Clive, defeated the Nawab of Bengal in 1757, thereby laying the foundations of the British Raj in India. (B/L/D)  

This morning moor near Khusgbagh where you will visit the Mughal-style gardens and tombs of Siraj-ud-Daulah - the last independent Nawab of Bengal, the beautiful Katra Mosque, the palatial Kathgola Palace and the Hazarduari Palace which houses a magnificent collection of china, weapons, paintings and other fascinating artefacts. Moor overnight on the riverbanks close to Murshidabad. (B/L/D) 

Today you will cross from the Hooghly River, or Lower Ganges, to the Ganges itself through the Farakka canal and lock. Built in the 1960s, the Farraka dam strategically controls the flow of water into neighbouring Bangladesh. Continue to sail upstream as you pass rural countryside and remote riverside villages. There is also a section of the river which is rich in bird life and you can often spot birds nesting on the riverbank using binoculars. Moor overnight at Samtaghat. (B/L/D) 

This morning sail upstream passing the confluence of the Kosi River which flows down from Nepal. After breakfast stop off at historic sites including Bateshwarsthan’s 6th century carvings and the 8th century ruins of a Buddhist stupa and monastery at Vikramshila. Relax on board as you continue upstream on the Ganges and enjoy a traditional Indian dinner on the deck. (B/L/D) 

As you enjoy breakfast onboard, watch out for the rare South Asian river dolphin jumping through the water as they are often spotted along this stretch of the river. Arrive at the Bhagalpur located on the southern banks of the Ganges. Take a sightseeing tour around this important city famous for its silk production and visit the 18th century mansion which was constructed by Augustus Clevland, an East India Company administrator. (B/L/D)

This morning visit Jahangira Island – home to Hindu rock carvings and a traditional mosque. Continue to Sultanganj where you will moor for the evening. Spend the late afternoon visiting the great granite rocks, one topped with a mosque and the other with a temple. (B/L/D)

After breakfast continue upstream before reaching Monghyr. This now large and industrialised city offers an interesting history and during your visit explore the Mughal hilltop fort, the East India Company cemetery and the Bihar School of Yoga that was founded by Satyananda Saraswati in 1964. As one of the country’s leading yoga schools, this institution has developed a number of yoga techniques over the years through a synthesis of traditional, tantric and vedantic practices as well as contemporary health science. (B/L/D)

Continue to the riverside town of Mokama which was once the home of naturalist Jim Corbett. Mokama is predominately surrounded by farmland and is the second highest producer of lentils in India. Here you will learn about the freedom fighters of Mokama that fought during the British rule, including Lalldin Saheb who was sent to jail during the freedom struggle. (B/L/D)

Today sail to Barh, a town famous for its Hindu ritual cremation. Spend the afternoon exploring Barh where you will visit Urmanath and the Alakhnath Temple. (B/L/D)

After breakfast on board, disembark the ship and drive to the magnificent archaeological site of Nalanda. Known as the world’s oldest seat of learning, Nalanda is home to an ancient 5th century Buddhist university which in its height was thought to have welcomed over 10,000 students. Continue by road to the wonderful Bodh Gaya. After lunch explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site which is arranged around the iconic Maha Bodhi temple where the Lord Buddha attained enlightenment. Maha Bodhi is a global pilgrimage site for Buddhists of all denominations and many monasteries have been built in various national styles including Thai, Burmese, Japanese and Tibetan. Tonight, stay in a hotel in Bodh Gaya. (B/L/D)

After breakfast travel to the airport where you will board a flight to the spiritual capital of India, Varanasi. Located on the banks of the holy Ganges, Varanasi has been a centre of learning and pilgrimage for over 2,000 years and is said to be one of the world’s oldest surviving cities. Varanasi is dotted with vibrantly coloured ghats on the waterfront that are constantly used by pilgrims performing ritual ablutions in the sacred river. In the afternoon visit the evocative ruined city of Sarnath where it is said that the Buddha first preached his message of enlightenment. (B/L/D) 

Early this morning head out onto the Ganges in a small rowing boat to watch the sunrise and witness the truly magical experience of pilgrims gathering to perform their daily religious rituals on the riverbank in the lifting mist. Head back into the city just as the sun rises and enjoy a tour of the old city by cycle rickshaw. After lunch spend the afternoon at leisure before taking a gentle walk along the ghats to see the traditional aarti rituals. (B/L/D)